The GWCT has been approached by Defra to respond to its consultation on the future of Environmental Land Management (ELM) policy, but we want to make sure you have your say.
We are preparing our response, drawing on our research and experience, but want to hear your views to inform our response. We have produced a survey to capture the information that Defra has said it is looking for in its new consultation. As with previous consultations such as that for General Licences, we will collate and anonymise the information before submitting it to Defra on your behalf. The closing date for our survey is 20th July.
Why is this survey so important?
ELM will be the principle scheme for delivering funding to the rural sector, replacing support given out under the CAP and Rural Development Schemes so it is of critical importance that Defra get the structure correct.
For any future scheme to work, it will need a high level of uptake from farmers of all kinds. That’s why it is essential that you have your say about whether their proposals will deliver the objectives needed, what would stop you participating in the scheme and how any self-assessment process could work.
You can respond to the consultation directly, but we can collate all responses to our survey and pass them on the Defra.
By collating around 3000 individual responses to the General Licence consultation, we were able to show the strength of feeling about some of the issues you faced and amplified the common themes in your replies.
This had a clear impact, with several of the comments included in Defra’s consultation report alongside the supporting scientific evidence. We know that Defra are willing to take your opinions on board.
Why now?
Our departure from the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy allows us to redesign our agricultural policies and build a new system based on ‘public money for public goods’. Your response to this consultation will inform the national pilot scheme, which is due to start in late 2021, and for the start of the ELM scheme in 2024.
The deadline is 20th July, but please get your responses in as soon as possible to help us to plan our response.
To complete the survey, please read the consultation document here and click the link below.
Take Survey >